by Jana Downs
Mr. Kane nodded. “And that is what I did. My wife is a Vessel, and she is the mother of my children. Our mate bond is solid as rock, and none of the Vessels I’ve made can shift.”
Jack shook his head. “You’re wrong on both accounts.”
Shock jolted Payne’s spine. He’d always known he was part-shifter due to the manual he’d had to read growing up on his own biology. However, the ability to change shapes had been disabled. “I can’t.”
“No, you can’t. It hasn’t awakened in you, and it might never awaken in you. But there have been Vessels in the past whose bodies somehow retained the ability. Those are some of the bodies that they’re pulling out of the river. Failed suppression techniques ended in death in ninety percent of the cases studied. The rest are those who didn’t measure up to protocol. I’ve been working for years running an underground railroad for those who failed to live up to Facility standards. We infiltrated your company to set it up. It was my father’s wish that we did so.”
Mr. Kane looked floored. “Why didn’t you come to me? I would’ve stopped it.”
“We had no way to know if you were involved, and we couldn’t risk tipping you off that we were secretly working to export the Vessels from your labs.” He sighed. “We’ve got a colony of over two-hundred Vessels now to think of, and it keeps growing.” He motioned to the labs. “This place is a butcher shop. We’ve shielded the Vessels under our care as best we could, but there was only so much we could do.”
“But some pairings work out,” Alec said. “Not every Vessel who is matched is miserable.”
“Of course not,” Jack said. “When the mate bond is present, it works out fine. It serves the original purpose for which we allowed Mr. Kane to use our DNA to begin with. However, the people here have been manipulating it for years. Ninety-three percent of those Vessels placed aren’t compatible with their owners. When we were ordered from the Facility I knew something was going to be done. I came back to get what Vessels I could out.”
Payne pushed himself to his feet, anger firing in his chest. He pointed a finger at Alec and his father. “How could you have not known about this?” He was furious and had no one but them to direct his anger toward. “All this suffering and you never even suspected?”
“Payne, I told you, I just work the marketing side. We have safeguards in place—”
“Safeguards that only work if the people following them adhere to them! You were so worried about advertising about the luxury and making money that you failed to take in the most basic of concerns for the people whose lives you were toying with!” He wanted to hit something, hard. He wanted to burn the entire building to the ground and wash away the horror of his childhood. It hadn’t been as bad as others, but it had been bad enough. The constant fear and the worry over whether he’d be good enough had eaten him alive until the day Alec walked into the room.
“I’m sorry,” Alec whispered, shame and pity coloring his expression. “I’m sorry you suffered. I’ll do whatever I can to fix the problem, but I can’t undo what has already been done.”
Payne knew that logically. He also knew that there was no relationship as satisfying as the one between Vessel and owner if the system worked properly. It just hurt to realize that the people supposed to be watching their backs had failed so utterly.
“I want names,” Mr. Kane rumbled. “Jack, if you give me the names of the people and your investigative notes, I will have them brought up on so many charges that by the time they get out of cryo-prison they won’t recognize the world.”
“And the Vessels who have escaped?” Jack asked.
“I have an idea where they’re concerned,” Payne said, speaking up. He ignored the hand Alec offered to him. He was still too pissed off for that. “Alec and I were discussing it earlier, but maybe this idea will work out to the benefit of all of us. We’re thinking of reworking the Facility as more of a matchmaking service. If Vessels don’t want to become Vessels, they can move to a place set aside for them, like the one you have in South America. It might cut into your profit margins.” He spat that bit. “But it will alleviate all humanitarian concerns once the new measures for education are implemented.”
“You’re going to have a Vessel consult on the reorganization?” Jack asked.
“Yes. Payne is going to be the consultant on the project,” Mr. Kane said, looking at Payne with an expression of pride written across his face. “He makes a fine in-law, doesn’t he, Jack?”
Jack nodded. “You’re lucky to have him. Payne is one of my brightest. I was going get him out if you opted for a personality alignment.”
“You were planning on doing that anyway. You encouraged me to opt for it,” Alec said, looking displeased by the idea.
“Payne never wanted to be someone’s pet. I was afraid you’d try to make him be.”
“Well, I don’t want him as a pet.” Alec shot Payne a look that he couldn’t place and turned the screen of the computer toward them. “I found the files that outline which Vessels these procedures were done to.”
“Good,” Mr. Kane said. “Jack, would you like to come with me so we can discuss what else needs to be done with this? I’ll have my security team summon the police, and then you can give a statement.”
“I’ll be happy to. I have some additional demands that come from my council to add to your list of proposed changes.” Jack extracted a small data chip from his pocket. “Most of what you need is here.”
“Excellent. Alec, why don’t you take Payne to see his sister? I’m sure he needs to relax a bit. We’ll need to do a press conference later,” Mr. Kane said, beckoning Jack to follow him. They and half the security team left. The PIs Mr. Kane had brought in were still going through computers and lab reports, though.
“I know the way if you get me to the lobby. You don’t have to walk me,” Payne said. He felt raw on the inside. He just wanted his twin.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Payne, are you angry with me?” Alec asked, following him out into the hallway.
“Yes. I’m furious. It’s not your fault, but I’m so angry at life. I just need someone to direct this toward, and you’re a convenient target,” Payne said apologetically. He took a deep breath in an effort to calm the rage.
He let himself be pulled into Alec’s strong arms, and he rested his head against the firm swell of his lover’s chest. Alec’s touch steadied him. They were bonded, imprinted, joined. It meant something. “I love you. Even angry, I love you.”
“That’s all right, sweetheart. I love you, too,” Alec murmured, rocking them back and forth in a steady motion designed to comfort.
His words sank in slowly, and his heart skipped a beat. “You said you weren’t there yet.”
“There is no point in denying it. It seems sudden to me, but I do, Payne. You make me feel so much more than anyone I’ve ever met.” He gave him a squeeze. “And I’m so sorry you had to go through all this stuff to be mine. Truly. If I could undo everything, I would.”
“Thank you,” Payne whispered. “I really needed to hear that.” He drew back and gave Alec a kiss. “Can I go see my sister now?”
“Well, there is something about that you should know…”
Chapter Eight
Payne couldn’t help but think how lucky he was to have Alec as a lover. While his sister had been optimistic about her chances of finding a true love in the process, she hadn’t wanted a pairing any more than he had. The knowledge that she would be coming to live with them made him happier than he’d been in a long time. She would get the opportunity to pick a love for herself, and Alec had even promised to set her up on a few dates with his friends if she wanted. Yeah, I really lucked out when it came to getting a grade A lover. Alec continually surprised him with his thoughtfulness. So what if he was a workaholic? Payne could handle that and could travel with him anytime he needed to. They could make this work.
He walked down the familiar hall toward the bunk rooms. The quiet murmur of voices said
the Vessels were all together. He couldn’t remember the last time they were all allowed in the bunks at the same time. He ran his hand over the entry pad, and the door swished open.
A dozen pairs of eyes looked his way. “Payne?” Chaz, one of his acquaintances and fellow Pleasure Vessels, asked. “What’s going on? No one told us anything.”
A chorus of voices joined his inquiry, and Payne was overwhelmed by all the questions. He held up a hand for silence. “Calm down and shut it and I’ll tell you.” They did, and he gave the Reader’s Digest version of the events that had taken place over the past few days.
“So we won’t be punished if we don’t like our placements?” Chaz asked.
Payne shook his head. “No. We’re going to make this new system good for everyone.” Their bunks were designated by age groups. This room was the one where those old enough to be placed were held. There were three more bunk houses down the hall that were separated by age group, and he hoped he wouldn’t have to explain the same thing to everyone.
They all glanced at one another. Chaz spoke up again. “The Trainers cleared out, and we weren’t sure what was going to happen. There was only one left running around the last time we checked. Do you think we could get some food? They haven’t fed us in two days.”
Payne felt the blood drain out of his face. “Is that true for all the age levels?”
Chaz shrugged. “We don’t know. They seriously just locked us in and left.” He waved toward the door. “It was on perma lock from the outside. You unlocked it when you keyed in.”
A chill went down his spine. He cursed. He hoped they would catch the monsters and kill them all. “Go to the kitchens and start cooking everything in there. We’re going to have a whole slew of people to feed. Where’s Desiree?”
A hand rose up from the middle of the pack. “Right here,” she said, poking her head up. She gave him a grin. “Hi, brother.”
“Hi, sissy. Can you take a few of the girls and have some formula made up for the little ones? They’re going to need feeding.” He pointed to Derek, a big, hulking service Vessel who helped out in the nursery occasionally. “Get a couple of your friends down to the nursery and start cleaning up the little ones and getting them ready to be fed. I also need a volunteer to go the middle age groups and gather them to take them to the mess hall.”
Derek nodded. “There are a few Service Vessels that were left down there so the babies haven’t been without care like the rest of us have. Though I imagine they need some help, nonetheless.”
“That’s a relief. Go help them out anyway and let the ones who have been caring for them get some of the food from the mess hall.”
He was born for this. Something inside him reveled in the position of leader. It was like he stepped into shoes that fit for the first time. “Move, guys,” he commanded. Everyone did, obeying him without question. He breathed a sigh of relief. He reached out and grabbed Desiree as she passed. “Hey, I’ve got something to tell you when this is done.”
She nodded. “Okay.” She kissed his cheek. “You look good.”
“I’m happy,” Payne agreed. “When you meet him, you’ll know why. He’s amazing.”
She winked. “Good. You deserve it.” Then she turned from him and went to the task he’d given her.
He took a deep breath. This was as it needed to be. Everyone cleared the room in less than a minute, and Payne was fairly confident that they were going to do as he asked. He turned toward the door to follow them and saw Alec leaning against the doorframe.
“You were really something in there. You looked natural,” Alec said.
Payne smiled at him. “It felt right.” The new confidence, the rightness, made him bolder. “Come here. The bunk is empty.”
Alec’s eyes widened. “Here?”
“Yeah.” Payne sauntered toward his old bunk at the end of the barracks. It was neatly made and narrow, but it would do. “I need you.” He needed to solidify his place and a reaffirmation of life or something. He didn’t just want him to take him either. “Alec?”
“Yes?”
“Can I be on top?”
A brief pause answered his question, followed by a chuckle. “If you want to. I’ve enjoyed it in the past.”
Payne whipped around. “Mine.” No one else was allowed to top his owner. He was his. Didn’t he know that?
“Okay, wild man. Yours.” That settled that weird animal part of him somewhat. Alec glanced around the bunk. “Lotion?”
“My sister has some.” He dug in her trunk. “It’s going to have to be fast. I need to check on everyone.”
“Whatever you want, Payne. I just want you to feel good.”
“Don’t pity-fuck me, Alec,” Payne said, finding the small bottle of hand lotion at the bottom of the trunk.
Alec’s blue eyes lit up with something like amusement. “I’d never pity-fuck you, Payne. I want you all the damn time. It’s hard to do anything but want you. Guess that’s the mate bond, huh?”
“Must be.” Alec was the one thing in life he was sure of. There was no doubt in his mind that they belonged together. They were imprinted, mated, whatever people wanted to call it. He raised his head in time to see his lover take off his pants and shoes before folding the former and laying them in a neat pile beside the bunk. He stood there in his black boxer-briefs and dress shirt, and the combination turned Payne on for some reason. “Get on the bed, all fours like you did me.” Payne’s cock jerked at the sight of Alec obeying his directive. “Is this okay?” he asked, suddenly unsure of himself as he popped the button on his slacks.
Alec turned his head and looked at Payne over his shoulder. “We’re lovers, partners, everything between us is right if we agree to it. I want to feel you like this, too, Payne. It’s not just you. I’m not saying we’ll do it all the time, but every once in a while, changing it up is not a bad thing.”
“Good. I really want to take you, Alec.” Something beyond instincts demanded that they come together like this if just one time. He needed this. He shoved his pants and boxers down his hips and let them puddle on the floor with his shoes.
“Tell me if I hurt you,” he murmured, coating his fingers with a generous dollop of lotion. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his lover. Alec had been infinitely kind to him, and he wanted to make the man feel good.
He circled the tight entrance to his lover’s body with one finger, pressing it just the tiniest bit inside before pulling back and dipping it just a little further inside. It wasn’t long before he was fingering Alec in earnest and he was rocking in counter rhythm to Payne’s plunging fingers. Payne was so hard he was almost ready to explode without ever touching his beloved’s sweet ass with his cock.
He pressed another finger inside, adding more slick to ease his way. Alec groaned and rocked back. “Come on, Payne. Get that gorgeous cock of yours inside me.”
Payne continued to stretch him for a few more endless minutes before he withdrew his hand and replaced it with his steadily dripping cock. He gritted his teeth to keep from crying out as his dick was enveloped in tight, slick heat. He pushed his hips forward, fucking his lover in small increments until he managed to seat himself fully inside Alec’s firm, round ass.
“God, you’re incredible,” Payne murmured, panting for breath. His balls were so tight he thought if he moved wrong right then he would come and it would be all over.
Alec moved restlessly under him, pushing back against him, demanding he move. “Payne,” he rumbled. “Fuck me already.”
The words took away the last vestiges of Payne’s sanity, and he drew his hips back before plunging forward in one smooth stroke. They both groaned at the motion. Then they were fucking like they were desperate to reach the pinnacle together. Payne slammed into his lover over and over, all instinct and raw need. He was making animalistic noises in the back of his throat, the part of him that kept snarling “mine” almost in complete control of his actions. He eyed the place where Alec’s neck met his shoulder, and he i
mpulsively bent forward and latched onto it with his teeth.
His teeth popped through the skin, and a sense of rightness flooded him. Alec writhed like a fish on a hook, screaming out his pleasure as his cock jerked and spilled onto the narrow mattress beneath them. Payne slammed forward and groaned, his arousal jerking and spilling the sticky proof of his pleasure deep inside the confines of his lover’s clenching ass.
He pulled his mouth free, panting. He shuddered as he came down from the intensity of his orgasm. He stayed where he was, loving the closeness of the moment.
“Wow,” he murmured when he regained the ability to speak.
“No kidding,” Alec agreed. “That was intense.”
“Yeah.” Short sentences were all he could manage with only three brain cells firing. He felt like they’d been woven together even more tightly than they’d been before.
“Payne?”
“What?”
“Can you get out of me, please? We can’t linger.”
How was he talking? He pulled back and out of his lover before pulling his pants clumsily up and staggering toward the bathroom to get some disposable towels. He’d completely forgotten them in his haste to get naked.
He got the towels and went back to the bunk before handing them to his lover. “Sorry about the mess.”
“What did you do when you bit me?” Alec asked, mopping up the mess as best he could. “It felt…incredible.”
Payne shrugged. “I have no clue. I just know it felt right.”
